There’s a few things that my mom (Mi Madre) and I have in common; food reigns supreme (Iron Chef reference). Because I’m a writer, Mi Madre suggests that I become a food writer. How convenient would that be? Here’s an attempt.

Mushroom ball

This past Saturday, March 12, Mi Madre and I traveled to St. Gregory of Nyssa Episcopal Church for the New Taste Marketplace, a farmer’s market sans farmer’s. Vendors from the Bay Area prepare food and sell it for the foodies not only for profit, but to help raise funds for The Food Pantry, an organization to feed the hungry. They should see me around noon-ish; I’m hungry then. Anyways, on that lovely Saturday afternoon, many people showed up to sample various foods, check out new brands and basically, get their grub on. We went for the latter and not knowing what to expect, my taste buds were pleasantly overwhelmed.

Upon walking to the marketplace, smells of smoked ribs filled the air. I took it as a sign of tasty things to come. For me, the ribs served by Slowhand BBQ were a must-have and I’m no rib expert but I know what I like. It was love at first bite – the rub, the tender meat and how it fell off the bone. Possibly the best ribs I’ve ever tasted. Before I scarfed down the ribs, I purchased SFQ, a San Francisco-style barbecue sauce, from a separate vendor, which had a sweet and spicy kick. Awaiting inside was a plethora of goodness as vendors eagerly pushed their products. A sliding scale of admission from $0-10 was being accepted since after all it was a fundraising event.

Mini cupcakes

Over 20 entrepreneurial chefs, bakers and cooks showcased their tasty treats. Whether it was an appetizer-type dish, entree, dessert or even a condiment, it was all available for consumption. Here are a few of the foods that were offered: meatball sliders, pulled-pork sandwiches, chocolates, papaya salad, drinks, tea, kim chee, ice cream cookie sandwiches, mini cupcakes, butter, barbecue sauce and so on. My mouth watered as I typed that sentence. It’s like a fair with just food. A cooking competition without the pressure. A place to indulge in gluttony. A mini Disneyland for foodies. A venue to meet up and eat up.

Unlike Costco where you can get many samples of food for free, each vendor had reasonably priced eats. It was much better than any buffet. I should’ve stopped by each table first before buying anything because I missed out on many things. I’ll definitely be making a return trip. The next New Taste Marketplace is Saturday, April 2. Bring cash and friends to share the generous servings of food.